Compare towns
Waterford vs Bakersfield vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterford has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bakersfield has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Waterford | Bakersfield | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,279Highest |
1,109 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±5.3 5% above VT |
46.4±8Highest 8% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Bakersfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bakersfield and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
$83,462±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Waterford and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,500±$22k 14% below VT |
$271,300±$19kLowest 14% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$327Lowest about the VT average |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,238 16% below VT |
$3,823Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 18.8%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 4% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.